Monkeys have been having a field day at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) over the past one month. They make frequent trips to the restaurants and washrooms, hassling vendors, staff and fliers alike. The latest incident was reported at the domestic terminal of IGIA on Wednesday.
According to sources at the airport, a simian entered terminal 1D around 11.30 am on Wednesday and made its way straight to ?Fresco?, a restaurant there. It proceeded to topple a few items on the tables before making its way towards the counter. Officials said that when passengers noticed the monkey, they alerted airport officials following which the CISF was called in.
?We informed Wildlife SOS who came with a team. However, before the team arrived, the monkey disappeared. We presume the monkey has left the premises,? a CISF official said, adding that confusion over the monkey?s presence at the airport lasted only about 12 minutes as the animal soon left the premises.
Sources at the airport said that this is not the first incident. Over the past one month, monkeys have, on different occasions, made several visits to the domestic terminal.
An airport official said that all terminal gates have air curtains which have been installed to prevent birds from entering the airport. However, officials said monkeys kept coming in through the windows and gates and usually hide behind dustbins or in washrooms.
Sources said two weeks ago, a simian grabbed a packet of cookies from a food stall on the premises and disappeared. ?It?s difficult to trace them because they run fast. The Wildlife SOS has managed to capture many of them. But in the past one month, the monkeys disappear before the team arrives,? an airport official said. ?Whether its the same monkey or a different one, is yet to be ascertained,? he said.
?If the monkeys manage to reach the air side, it will create an emergency situation, especially if an aircraft is ready for take-off,? an official said. However, officials claimed there was no disruptions in flight movement or ground activity due to simians in the past month.